Celebrations in Jordan over resignation of interior minister

May 18, 2015

AMMAN, Jordan (AP) — The mayor of the tense Jordanian tribal city of Maan says hundreds of residents took to the street to celebrate the resignation of the country’s interior minister over what they consider heavy-handed tactics by the security forces.

Mayor Ali Khattab said Monday that celebrations erupted after Hussein Majali resigned on Sunday, apparently as part of a high-level shakeup. State media said the head of the public security department and the gendarmerie were sent into retirement.

Security forces have repeatedly raided Maan, which made headlines last year with support rallies for the militant Islamic State group.

Khattab says large numbers of security forces backed by armored vehicles and helicopters tried to arrest two fugitives in Maan over the weekend. He says the raid upset residents but failed to catch the fugitives.